---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Simple determinism, whether of the…"
description: "\"Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a fondness for free will.\" — Matt Ridley"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png"
---

#  Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or…

![“Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a fondness for free will.” quote by Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png)

> “Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a fondness for free will.”

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Determinism, whether genetic or environmental, challenges the belief in free will, which can be unsettling.

**In simple terms:** Determinism threatens free‑will belief.

Key Takeaway

Recognize limits of control.

Themes

determinism free will philosophy

Mood

thoughtful serious

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- personal planning
- education

Key Concepts

nature vs nurture existentialism psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How much control do we truly have?
- Can free will coexist with determinism?

A Different Perspective

Accepting determinism may reduce motivation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing/) [Depressing Prospect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depressing-prospect-5839885/) [Determinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determinism/) [Determinism Genetic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determinism-genetic-5839886/) [Environmental](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environmental/) [Fondness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fondness/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-will/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Depressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-depressing-367902/) [Simple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple/) [Simple Determinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/simple-determinism-5839884/)

## Related quotes

> [I guess I have a gift for expressing pedestrian tastes. In a way, it's kind of depressing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-watterson/i-guess-i-have-a-gift-for-expressing-pedestrian-tastes-in-a-way-it-s/)

[Bill Watterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-watterson/)

> [I think it is kind of depressing how few female filmmakers there are. I think it is in general depressing how few women there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanne-bier/i-think-it-is-kind-of-depressing-how-few-female-filmmakers-there-are/)

[Susanne Bier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanne-bier/)

> [It's kind of depressing. A double relegation is something a few of us have - and we don't want it on our CV's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-doherty/it-s-kind-of-depressing-a-double-relegation-is-something-a-few-of-us/)

[Matt Doherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-doherty/)

> [It's kind of depressing to make a lot of records and not get the kind of response they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-russell/it-s-kind-of-depressing-to-make-a-lot-of-records-and-not-get-the-kind/)

[Leon Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-russell/)

> [It's kind of depressing, if you think about it. I mean, me being so young, and yet so cynical and suspicious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-cabot/it-s-kind-of-depressing-if-you-think-about-it-i-mean-me-being-so/)

[Meg Cabot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-cabot/)

> [Any of the rewards or accolades or any of that are very nice and everything but the music is what saves me. And it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-houser/any-of-the-rewards-or-accolades-or-any-of-that-are-very-nice-and/)

[Randy Houser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-houser/)

> [It's a really common trap to want your life to live up to some standard that you believe in, and then you start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-sheff/it-s-a-really-common-trap-to-want-your-life-to-live-up-to-some/)

[Will Sheff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-sheff/)

> [The Fondness we have for Self, and the Relation which other Persons and Things have to ourselves, furnish us with another long Rank of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-watts/the-fondness-we-have-for-self-and-the-relation-which-other-persons/)

[Isaac Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-watts/)

> [I don't have a hands-on fondness for animals. I did not grow up bonded to any particular nonhuman animal. I like them and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-pacelle/i-don-t-have-a-hands-on-fondness-for-animals-i-did-not-grow-up-bonded/)

[Wayne Pacelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-pacelle/)

> [No adversity is in kind or degree peculiar to us; but if we survey the conditions of other men (of our brethren everywhere, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-barrow/no-adversity-is-in-kind-or-degree-peculiar-to-us-but-if-we-survey-the/)

[Isaac Barrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-barrow/)

> [Fondness is a poor substitute for friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/fondness-is-a-poor-substitute-for-friendship/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/)

> [Merit rather enforces respect than attracts fondness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/merit-rather-enforces-respect-than-attracts-fondness/)

[Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/)

> [“The key to valuing something is to lose it and then realize how rare it was—after which you pray like mad to regain what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/the-key-to-valuing-something-is-to-lose-it-and-then-realize-how-rare/)

[Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/)

> [We must understand that God does not "love" us without liking us - through gritted teeth - as "Christian" love is sometimes thought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/we-must-understand-that-god-does-not-love-us-without-liking-us/)

[Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/)

> [One defining symptom of decadence is a fondness for vast and nonsensical extravagance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-silverberg/one-defining-symptom-of-decadence-is-a-fondness-for-vast-and/)

[Robert Silverberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-silverberg/)

## More by Matt Ridley

> [I felt cheated by the way grown-ups told me that the future of the world was bleak when I became a teenager in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/i-felt-cheated-by-the-way-grown-ups-told-me-that-the-future-of-the/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“If you attend a meeting of evolutionary biologists somewhere in America, you might be lucky and spot a tall, gray-whiskered, smiling man bearing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/if-you-attend-a-meeting-of-evolutionary-biologists-somewhere-in/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“Merchants and craftsmen make prosperity; chiefs, priests and thieves fritter it away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/merchants-and-craftsmen-make-prosperity-chiefs-priests-and-thieves/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [At some point, human intelligence became collective and cumulative in a way that happened to no other animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/at-some-point-human-intelligence-became-collective-and-cumulative-in/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [We consciously decide whether to consider people; we fall in love despite ourselves; we entirely fail to fall in love with people who fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/we-consciously-decide-whether-to-consider-people-we-fall-in-love/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [It's terrifying the way molecular biology has become more and more jargon ridden. But I strongly believe that my book can be read by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/it-s-terrifying-the-way-molecular-biology-has-become-more-and-more/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“The gene contains a single 'word', repeated over and over again: CAG, CAG, CAG, CAG ... The repetition continues sometimes just six times, sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/the-gene-contains-a-single-word-repeated-over-and-over-again-cag-cag/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“If you think being descended from apes is bad for your self esteem, then get used to the idea that you are also descended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/if-you-think-being-descended-from-apes-is-bad-for-your-self-esteem/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [Government can encourage innovation, but mainly by doing less, not doing more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/government-can-encourage-innovation-but-mainly-by-doing-less-not/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [Note even Jonathan Swift would dare to write a satire in which politicians argued that - in a world where species are vanishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/note-even-jonathan-swift-would-dare-to-write-a-satire-in-which/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [The evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins in 1976 coined the term ‘meme’ for a unit of cultural imitation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/the-evolutionary-biologist-richard-dawkins-in-1976-coined-the-term/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [This idea holds out hope that the human race will prosper mightily in the years ahead-because ideas are having sex with each other as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/this-idea-holds-out-hope-that-the-human-race-will-prosper-mightily-in/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“Well, in OUR country,’ said Alice, still panting a little, ‘you’d generally get to somewhere else—if you ran very fast for a long time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/well-in-our-country-said-alice-still-panting-a-little-you-d-generally/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [“Far from being choosy, female primates seemed to be initiators of much promiscuity. Hrdy began to suggest that there was something wrong with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/far-from-being-choosy-female-primates-seemed-to-be-initiators-of-much/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

> [Every minute, every second, the pattern of genes being expressed in your brain changes, often in direct or indirect response to events outside the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/every-minute-every-second-the-pattern-of-genes-being-expressed-in/)

[Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

[Explore all 81 Matt Ridley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/)

## More Biology quotes

> [In the fight between biology and morality, biology has commonly won in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/semir-zeki/in-the-fight-between-biology-and-morality-biology-has-commonly-won-in/)

[Semir Zeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/semir-zeki/)

> [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/)

[Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/)

> [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/)

[Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/)

> [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/)

[Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/)

> [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/)

[Hideaki Sena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideaki-sena/)

> [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/)

[The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/)

> [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/)

[Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/)

> [I think the ethics and morals of genetic engineering are very complicated. It intrigues me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-spottiswoode/i-think-the-ethics-and-morals-of-genetic-engineering-are-very/)

[Roger Spottiswoode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-spottiswoode/)

> [Biochemists and biologists who adhere blindly to the Darwinism theory search for results that will be in agreement with their theories and consequently orient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierre-paul-grasse/biochemists-and-biologists-who-adhere-blindly-to-the-darwinism-theory/)

[Pierre-Paul Grasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-paul-grasse/)

> [“A note of caution: epigenetics is also on the verge of transforming into a dangerous idea. Epigenetic modifications of genes can potentially superpose historical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siddhartha-mukherjee/a-note-of-caution-epigenetics-is-also-on-the-verge-of-transforming/)

[Siddhartha Mukherjee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siddhartha-mukherjee/)

> [Natural history is not taught in seminary. This is curious, as most people in pastoral ministry are about 567 times more likely to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-maitland/natural-history-is-not-taught-in-seminary-this-is-curious-as-most/)

[Sara Maitland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-maitland/)

> [We are coming to a place where the road ends. From here on out, we will be making the road as we walk it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-atlee/we-are-coming-to-a-place-where-the-road-ends-from-here-on-out-we-will/)

[Tom Atlee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-atlee/)

> [I've always been interested in medicine and was pleased when my brother became a doctor. But after thinking seriously about that field, I realized…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-medicine-and-was-pleased-when-my/)

[Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/)

> [Evolution... is the most powerful and the most comprehensive idea that has ever arisen on Earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-huxley/evolution-is-the-most-powerful-and-the-most-comprehensive-idea-that/)

[Julian Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-huxley/)

> [History employs evolution to structure biological events in time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/history-employs-evolution-to-structure-biological-events-in-time/)

[Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/)

[Browse all 3,034 Biology quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a fondness for free will.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Matt Ridley"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/simple-determinism-whether-of-the-genetic-or-environmental-kind-is-a/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Biology"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/simple-determinism-whether-of-the-genetic-or-environmental-kind-is-a/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/217/matt-ridley-8082_biology_simple-determinism-whether-of-the-geneti_750542.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Simple determinism, whether of the genetic or environmental kind, is a depressing prospect for those with a…” — Matt Ridley",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Matt Ridley",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Simple determinism, whether of the genetic...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/simple-determinism-whether-of-the-genetic-or-environmental-kind-is-a/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/simple-determinism-whether-of-the-genetic-or-environmental-kind-is-a/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
